Ryan started acting in professional theatres at the age of seven; in 2007 she appeared in the Barney & Friends straight-to-DVD filmBarney: Let’s Go to the Firehouse and then was discovered in a nationwide search by Disney. She is also known for appearing in the 2008 feature film The Longshots as Edith. In 2009, she guest starred in an episode of Wizards of Waverly Place in “Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana” as Bailey Pickett along with her other cast mates from The Suite Life on Deck. Then, in 2010, she starred in the film 16 Wishes, which was the most watched cable program on the day of its premiere on the Disney Channel. 16 Wishesintroduced Ryan to new audiences; the movie received high viewership in the adults demographic (18-34).[6][7][8] Soon after that, Ryan starred in the independent theatrical film, What If…, which premiered on August 20, 2010.

Ryan also starred in the 2012 Disney Channel Original Movie Radio Rebel, where she portrays Tara Adams, a shy 17-year-old girl who adopts the radio personality Radio Rebel. Ryan directed an episode of her TV show, Jessie,[9] that aired on May 15, 2015. In 2013, she formed the band The Never Ending. Beginning in July 2015, Ryan will perform with The Never Ending as an opening act on Fifth Harmony‘s Reflection Tour.[10]

Early life

Ryan was born in Huntsville, Alabama.[4][11] She has performed in various theater performance groups and talent competitions.[12] Her father was in the military, so she moved to numerous places in Europe. She lived in Germany until she was 10 and can speak both English and German. She started performing in professional theaters at the age of seven on an American base in Germany.[13] She returned to the United States in 2003, at the age of 10, and was raised in Texas.[13][14] In a 2009 People Magazine interview, she described herself as a “nerd” in school.[13] She was bullied in middle school for being a mascot and a member of the school’s chess club.

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